Snap fastener construction for envelopes



NOV' 17, 1959 J. w. FITZGERALD 2,913,164

SNAP FASTENER CONSTRUCTION FOR ENvELOPEs 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1957 FIG. 3-

FlG. 2

Nov. 17, 1959 J. W. FITZGERALD SNAP FASTENER CONSTRUCTION FOR ENVELOPES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3. 1957 BY M1 l TOR. Wam

FIG. 9

SNAP FASI'ENER CONSTRUCTION FOR ENVELOPES John W. Fitzgerald, Belmont, Mass., assignor to Ames Safety Envelope Company, Somerville, Mass., a company of Massachusetts Application May 3, 19'57, Serial No. 656,980 Claims. (Cl. 22a- 78) The present invention relates to fastening the closure flap 'portion of an envelope to its container portion and, more particularly, to lthe provision of mated vsnap fastener elements 'on the closure flap portion and the container portion of an envelope, the closure flap portion being relatively large to ensure security of the envelopes contents, and to predetermine the envelopes shape and the consequent position of the fastener element on the container portion being suiciently distant from its free edge to render that position inaccessible to the apparatus by which the fastener element is athxed.

Primary objects of the present invention are: to provide an envelope having a closure flap portion and a container portion including a pair of joined panels, the front panel joining the flap portion which carries a first snap fastener element adjacent its extremity, and the rear panel including an integral iiap section mounting a second fastener element which is accessible to the first fastener element through an opening in the rear panel when the flap section is folded into position between the panels; to provide an envelope of the foregoing type in which the snap fastener elements are cooperating stud and socket members each integrally formed from sheet material with a circular base and a tubular stud or socket upstanding therefrom, the bases, which are secured to the envelope portions by prongs, being dished outwardly from one another when the stud and socket are mated; to provide an envelope of the foregoing type in which the mounting flap section is an integral extension of the` rear panel; and to provide an envelope of the foregoing type wherein the mounting flap section initially is part of the rear panel partially separated from the remainder thereof by perforations.

Other objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the product possessing the features, properties and relation of components, which are exemplied in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be had to the following `detailed description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of an envelope embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken away side elevation of the envelope of Fig. 1, shown being prepared for use;

Fig. 3 is a back elevation of the envelope of Fig. l, in completely closed condition;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, of Fig. 3, taken substantially along the lines 4 4;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the elements of the fastener shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a crosssectional view of Fig. 5, taken substantially along the lines 6 6;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the other of the elements of the fastener in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the fastener element of Fig. 7, taken substantially along the lines 8-8; and

attent n., o

Fig. 9 is a plan view of another envelope alternatively embodying the present invention.

Generally each ofthe embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing in accordance with the present invention comprises a flat container portion, the parallel panels of which are directly joined on three edges by reverse folds, and a closure ap extending from the front panel at the fourth edge and separated therefrom by a score. The closure ap is wide, i.e., the distance between the extremity of the ap and the score which separates it from the front panel is within the range of say a length equal to from one third the breadth of the er1- velope at its mouth to a length equal to the overall height of the envelope when closed. Thus, when a fastener element is carried by the flap portion adjacent to its free extremity, the reciprocal fastener element thereby must be positioned too far from the free edge of the rear panel of the containing por-tion to be affixed properly thereto. It will be appreciated that aixing a fastener element in proper position on the rear panel before the envelope is completely formed would tend to increase the manufacturing costs unduly. Accordingly, the fastening element on ,the rear panel is affixed to a ap section, which -is integrally connected to the rear panel in such a manner `that when the ap section is extended between the yfront and rear panels, it is accessible to the other fastening element through an opening in the rear panel. The particular fastening elements with which the illustrated envelopes are yspecifically designed 4to cooperate are described in detail below.

The envelope illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3 comprises v a front panel 20 and a rear panel 22 integrally connected at one edge by a reverse fold 24 at one side, adhesively joined at the other edge by a side seam 26 extending from front panel Ztl reversely folded at Z8, and adhesively joined on the bottom by a bottom seam 30 extending from front panel 20 reversely folded a-t 32. Extending from the upper edge of front panel 2@ is a closure ap 34 separated from front panel Ztl by a score 36. As shown the distance from score 36 to the free edge of ap 34, which it parallels, is approximately one half the length of the score, which extends along the entire open mouth of the envelope. integrally extending from the upper edge of rear panel 22 is a mounting ap 38 which is separated from the rear panel by a score 40. A two piece socket and stud fastener 4Z, 44 serves to secure flap 34 in closed superposition with rear panel 22 in the following manner. Socket element 44 is accessible through an opening `46 in rear panel 22 after -ap 38 is inserted between front panel Ztl and rear panel 22, the insertion being aided by scores 43 and 59 paralleling score 4t?. Stud element 42 is designed to snap into socket element 44 when flap 34 is folded at score 36 into superposition with yrear panel 22. The relationships are such that the distances between the center of opening 46 and score 4l?, the distance between the center of socket element 44 and score 4l) and the distance between stud element 42 and score 3-6 are approximately equal.

With reference now particularly to Figs. 4 through 8, stud element 42 includes a thin dished-or concave sheet metal body preferably of circular shape, and an integral tubular stud 54 having divergent `side walls 56 and an enlarged closed head 58. The portion of the body surrounding the stud provides a dished or concave collar or ange 6@ adapted to bear upon one face of the envelope section to which it is attached.

Stud collar or flange 60 is provided with a plurality of circular-ly arranged prongs 62 extending outwardly from its concave face. Prongs 62 are struck from the body of flange 60, being integral therewith inwardly of the peripheral edge of the flange so as to provide a continuous peripheral rim 64. Prongs 62 extend obliquely from the concave face of liange 60 so that, when subjected to pressure, they become flattened outwardly toward peripheral rim 64. Preferably prongs 62 are of suicient length so that their extremities may extend radially outwardly of rim 64.

Socket element 44 includes a thin dished or concave sheet metal body, preferably of circular shape, and an integral tubular socket 66 upstanding from the concave face of the body. Socket 66 has convergent sides 68 terminating in an inturned edge' 70, which defines a stud receiving opening. Sides 68 of tubular socket 66 may be slit, as at 72, at circumferential positions, the slits extending from the edge 70 inwardly toward the base of the socket to provide suicient resilience in the socket for snap fastener engagement with rigid stud 54. The llange 74 surrounding tubular socket 66 is concave, like the body liange surrounding the stud, and is provided with a circular series of tapered prongs 76, integrally joined to ange 74 inwardly of its peripheral edge to provide a continuous rim 78. As in the case of the attaching prongs of the stud element, the socket prongs are adapted to penetrate the supporting material inwardly of rim 78 and to bend outwardly so that their extremities may extend radially outwardly of rim 78. Y

As will be apparent from Fig. 4 the fastener elements, when interengaged, present opposed concave flanges, which when serving as envelope fastening elements, facilitate the stacking and feeding of the envelopes in addressing and manifolding machines with a minimum -of catching due to undesired engagement with the machines or the edges of other envelopes.

The envelope alternatively embodying the present invention, as illustrated 'n1 Pig. 9, comprises a front panel 80 and a rear panel 82 integrally joined at the bottom of the envelope by a fold 84 and at opposite sides by side seams 86 and 88 of front wall 80, which are separated therefrom by folds 90 and 92. Extending from front panel 80 and integral therewith is a closure iiap 94, separated from front panel 80 by a score 96. As shown, the distance from score 96 to the free edge of closure iiap 94, which is parallel thereto, is approximately equal to about three quarters of the distance from the upper to the lower edge of the envelope.

Separated from the remainder` of rear panel 82, by lines of perforations 98 and 100 and by score 102, is a flap 104 which carries a socket element 106. When flap 104 is bent inwardly and downwardly about score 102 .its side edges being severed from the remainder of rear Wall 82 at perforations 98 and 100, socket element 106 becomes accessible through an opening 108 to a stud element 110 that is carried by ap 94 adjacent its free edge. Elements 106 and 110 are similar in all respects to their counterparts in Fig. 1.

It is of course to be understood that in the foregoing embodiments stud element 42 and socket element 44 may be interchanged and stud element 110 and 106 may be interchanged.

Since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1.V A flat envelope comprising a closure flap portion 'and a container portion including a front rectangular panel and a rear rectangular panel parallel to each other, said panels being directly joined on three edges by reverse folds, said closure flap portion integrally extending from said front panel at the fourth edge and separated therefrom by a score, the distance between the extremity of said flap portion and said score ranging from a length equal to `one third the breadth ofthe envelope to a length vequal to the overall height of the envelope when closed,

said rear panel including an integral flap section, a first fastener element mounted on said liap portion, a second fastener element mounted on said flap section, said rear panel having an opening through which said second fastener element is accessible to said first fastener element when said ap section is' extended into interposition between said front panel and said rear panel, one of said first fastener element and said second fastener element constituting an integrally shaped sheet metal stud formed with a liat base portion and a closed ended tubular portion upstanding therefrom, the other of said iirst fastener element and said second fastener element constituting an integrally shaped sheet metal socket formed with a hat base portion and an open ended tubular portion upstanding therefrom, said bases being provided with integral prongs that extend through portions of the container to which said fastening elements are attached.

2. An envelope comprising a container portion including a front panel and a rear panel substantially parallel to each other, a closure flap portion integrally extending from said front panel at one edge of said container portion, a mount ap portion integrally extending from said rear panel, said closure flap portion being separated from said front panel by a score, said mount flap portion -being separated from said rear panel by a score, said front panel and said rear panel being joined at the remaining edges of said container portion, a rst fastener element mounted on said mount flap portion, a second fastener element mounted on said closure tiap portion, said rear panel having an opening therethrough, said mount tiap portion being disposed between said front panel and said rear panel, said irst snap fastener element and said second snap fastener element being mated through said opening.

3. The envelope of claim 2 wherein said mount ap portion is an integral extension of said rear panel.

4. The envelop of claim 2 wherein said mount liap portion initially is partially separated from the remainder of said rear panel by perforations.

5. An envelope comprising a container portion including a front panel and a rear panel substantially parallel to each other, a closure flap portion integrally extending from said front panel at one edge of said container portion, a mount flap portion integrally extending from said rear panel, said closure flap portion being separated from said front panel by a score, said mount flap portion being separated from said rear panel by a score, said front panel and said rear panel being joined at the remaining edges of said container portion, a first fastener element mounted on said mount flap portion, a second fastener element mounted on said closure liap portion, said rear panel having an opening therethrough, said mount flap portion being disposable between said front panel and said rear panel, the distance between said opening and said score and between said first fastener element and said score being equal, the distance between said opening and said one edge of said container and between said second fastener element and said one edge of said container being equal, whereby said first snap fastener and said second fastener may be mated through said opening.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 797,277 Grazier Aug. 15, 1905 1,030,507 Edmondson June 25, 1912 1,117,992 Fleming Nov. 24, 1914 1,451,612 Hausner Apr. 10, 1923 1,677,867 Lloyd July 17, 1928 2,200,188 Poppe May 7, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 505,518 Great Britain May 12, 1939 

